Obsession (2 page)

“How was work today?” He asked
, as she set the vase of fresh flowers on a counter top, and she turned to smile at him.

“Good thanks. The kids were well-behaved for once. What do you do, Gabriel? I noticed it didn’t say on your business card.”

That’s because he’d had it printed especially for her. “I’m in the music industry.” He replied a little vaguely.

“Oh right. As a producer or a musician?” She continued to smile at him as she selected a copper pan, filled it with water and set it on the range cooker that took up almost one whole side of the kitchen.

“A little of both.” He shrugged. “What are you cooking? It smells wonderful.”

“Nothing really exciting.” Blushing, she looked away. “It’s so cold outside
, I decided to make cassoulet. I made fresh bread too and there’ll be French beans. Is that okay? You didn’t say if there was anything you didn’t eat.”

“That sounds like a plate full of heaven.” He had no idea what
cassoulet was, but he’d eat it because it had been made by her hands.

They had a pleasant dinner. The conversation was full of laughter
, once she had relaxed, and the food was excellent. The wine flowed freely and they talked late into the night. As the clock finally struck 1am, he glanced at his watch.

“Wow, it’s late. I should go.” Neither of them moved and, taking her unspoken submission for what it was, he moved across the sofa and kissed her.

Noelle felt dizzy with breathlessness as his lips moved over hers. He was skilled with his mouth, teasing her lips apart so that he could taste her. His tongue delved into her mouth, seeking out her own, and she tentatively met it with the tip of hers. He made a soft noise of pleasure and it thrilled through her, setting a tingling in her core. The kiss deepened as she grew bold, and his arms came around her, scooping her closer as their tongues duelled and danced.

She was teetering on the edge of the abyss when he
lifted her into his lap and then suddenly jerked away from her, breathing heavily.

“Fuck, I’m sorry.” He rested his forehead against her shoulder. “I got carried away.”

“It’s okay.” Now that he had released her, she could think and breathe again and she suddenly felt embarrassed, wondering why he had stopped. Then she wondered how she could have acted like such a brazen hussy. He was almost a complete stranger and here she was, sat in his lap having let him take her to the edge of asking him to stay the night. Her cheeks flushed rosy and she started to move, but he caught her by the hips and held her still.

“If you move around you’re going to make me kiss you again
, and this time I won’t stop.” He warned in a voice gravelly with need. “I didn’t stop because it was wrong; I stopped because it was too right for a first date.” His hips rocked slightly as though proving a point and she suddenly realised
exactly
why he had stopped. He’d pulled her into his lap right on top of a raging hard on.

“Oh!” She breathed, losing a little focus as her mind explored the possibilities.

“It’s too soon.” He gritted his teeth. “I have too much respect for you to do this. Just let me...calm down and then you can move and then I’m going to go home and we can meet again when I’m a little more under control.”

She wanted to ask him to stay. God, she wanted to ask him to stay so much the compulsion almost hurt. But he was right. It was too soon. They barely knew each other. Gently and tenderly, she cupped the back of his head with her hands, stroking the silky chestnut strands
, as their breathing slowly evened out.

“I’m okay now.” He said eventually, reluctantly, and she nodded, releasing his head so he could pull away. His hazel eyes had darkened to chocolate with want
, but he seemed much calmer and didn’t flinch as she slid back to her side of the sofa.

There was an awkward silence as they both wondered what to say first
, and then both burst out laughing at the same time at the ridiculousness of the situation. It was like being teenagers again.

“I should go.” This time he actually got to his feet and she forced herself to get up too. “Thank you for a lovely evening.” He gave her a dazzling smile and her legs felt like overcooked spaghetti.

“Thank you for the flowers and the chocolates.” She knew it sounded formal but it was the first thing that came into her head.

“I’d really like to do this again sometime. Soon.” A liquid glimmering in his eyes told her that next time they’d maybe finish what they started
, and she had to swallow before she replied.

“Me too.” There was another moment of stillness between them
, as they contemplated where the agreement would eventually lead them, and then he reached across and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“How about tomorrow?” He asked softly. “Or is that too soon?”

She thought about the pile of marking she had set aside for the weekend and found herself shaking her head. “Tomorrow would be good.”

“Excellent.” This time he flashed his teeth when he smiled and it sent a shiver of longing down her neck. He was a beautiful and very dangerous predator. “I don’t expect you to cook again. I’ll email you details when I’ve made a reservation somewhere.”

“I’m not sure if that’s code for you don’t like my cooking.” She joked and he chuckled.

“Don’t mock.
For a while this evening I was contemplating turning up every night for my dinner. I haven’t eaten so well in ages.”

“Really?” She asked sceptically, her eyes running almost subconsciously up and down his ripped frame. “That’s a body that takes work. You don’t get that kind of muscle
mass without healthy eating and a lot of time in the gym.”

“I didn’t say I hadn’t eaten in great volume. Just that I hadn’t eaten so
well
.” He replied, mildly teasing. “Lean proteins and steamed veg are food for the body. Whatever you called that duck and sausage thing is food for the
soul
.”

“Food for the soul, huh?”
Food for the hips more like
, she thought silently, amused. “I don’t mind cooking. It’s up to you.”

“I’d like to take you out. Spoil you.”
There he went with that damn smile again, the one that made her legs feel like noodles.

“Okay, I’ll look forward to your email.” She backed down and he leaned down to kiss her gently on the lips.

“I’ll look forward to sending it.” He gave a shaky laugh. “Right. I really am going this time.” She followed him to the door, watched him put his coat on and waved him out into the bitter night, only belatedly realising as she started the washing up that she had no idea how he was getting home. Opening the door again, she stepped out into the porch but he’d already disappeared. His footsteps in the snow led up the street and around the corner and she guessed he was going for a taxi. She’d maybe email in the morning, she reassured herself as she closed the door again. Just check he’d got home all right.

Out in the night, Gabriel wrapped his coat tightly around him and watched from the shadows as she moved around her kitchen, putting things to rights in the aftermath of dinner. Her hair was catching glints from the copper pans, making it seem almost lustrously metallic. His fingers ached to touch it. His whole body ached to fuck her. But not yet. It was too soon. She needed to trust him.

When she opened the door to him the following evening
, he just about swallowed his tongue. She looked glorious in a vivid green dress that brought out the red in her hair and the warm creamy gold of her skin. She looked like some sort of woodland fairy, her delicate features flushed with pleasure at seeing him. The dress was nipped in at the waist, with a full skirt, and cut modestly on top, emphasising her generous curves. She wasn’t in any way fat, but nature had seen fit to bless her with a shape so feminine it made his throat dry.

“Gabriel.” She peeked shyly at him from under her lashes and he smiled foolishly.

“Noelle. You look gorgeous.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek, the heady scent of her perfume giving him vertigo.

“Thanks.” She blushed an even deeper shade of cerise and he stepped back as she covered her
embarrassment by turning to fetch her coat. “I wasn’t sure if it would be all right.” She said when she turned back to him, stepping out into the cold air. “I didn’t know where we were going and you didn’t say if there was a dress code.”

“You look just perfect.” He took her arm and steadied her across the ice to the car that was idling by the kerb. “You really should get this gritted.” He told her seriously
, as she picked her way across ice that was so smooth it was like glass. “You could fall.”

“I keep meaning to get a bag of salt and then forgetting.” She admitted. “I’ll try and remember next time I go to the shops.” He wouldn’t let it go that far. He would make sure she got home safely tonight and then he’d send someone out to deal with it in the morning. The thought of her getting hurt by anything other than him made his jaw clench with a fleeting rush of rage.

“I’ll try and remind you.” He said amiably, pulling open the rear door for her and then moving around the other side to get in. For the first time she noticed that he had a chauffeur and he watched as unease passed across her face, quelled as suddenly as it had risen.

“You never did tell me much about what you do.” She seemed subdued at the overt display of wealth and he smiled, trying to ease her discomfort.

“It really is a little bit of everything.” He explained vaguely. “I do some producing, some song-writing, a little bit of singing here and there. It’s the song-writing that keeps me in expensive clothes and cars driven by someone else.”

Despite herself she was fascinated. “Have you written anything I’d have heard of?” He reeled off a couple of well known songs and she was duly impressed. “Well now I know how you stay in nice clothes and fancy cars.” She joked. “Those are great songs.”

“I’m glad you think so.” He took her hand and encircled her small wrist with his long fingers, marvelling at how delicate it was. “I’m glad you decided to come tonight. I thought maybe...after last night...I don’t know...You might have changed your mind.”

“Because we kissed?” She asked and he shook his head, refusing to look at her.

“Not the kiss, no, it was what stopped it.” For a moment her brow creased in thought and then she had to fight the laughter that bubbled up out of her chest.

“You mean...?” She gestured in the general direction of his groin and he nodded. “No, that didn’t put me off. If you must know, it was rather flattering to be so desired. I haven’t had that effect on someone for quite a while.”
She obviously hadn’t noticed the way men’s eyes followed her about.

He consulted his watch, realising the restaurant was a good half hour away. “Come here.” He said huskily, pulling her arm gently so she slid across the leather seat and into his side. “We have a way to go and I’ve been thinking about this all day.” He lowered his lips to hers with a gentle urgency that devoured her with all consuming want. She couldn’t understand the hold he had over her. She’d never been so physically attracted to anyone in her life. She didn’t kiss people like this, certainly not after only 6 or 7 hours in each other’s company, yet the need ached deep within her, demanding release. When his tongue slid into her mouth
, she thought she was going to lose her mind and barely noticed when he scooped her up to straddle his lap. When his lips left hers to travel down her neck, she came to her senses slightly and remembered they were in a moving vehicle. It should have bothered her that she wasn’t strapped in, but before she could consider the thought with any depth, his hands slid up her thighs beneath her dress and she moaned softly as he cupped his hands around her waist and ground his hips against her.

“God you drive me crazy.” He murmured, echoing her own thoughts back at her. “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anyone as much as I want you right now.” As he captured her mouth again, his hands smoothed over the curve of her rear and then one of them slid between her legs, caressing her over the flimsy fabric of her briefs.

“Gabriel!” She broke away with a strangled squeak, acutely aware suddenly that there was someone else in the car sitting less than ten feet away. The driver gave no impression that he was paying them any attention, but, if she let Gabriel go where she thought he was headed, the driver would certainly be hearing them.

“Shh.” He soothed, his hands continuing their relentless exploring, and Noelle was torn between wanton abandon and abject shame. It
felt
so good. Her whole body shuddered with delight as he slipped first one finger and then two underneath the fabric and into the folds of her body. It had been so long. She wanted this, needed it even, but her brain simply couldn’t ignore the fact that there was someone else who could clearly hear everything that was going on.

“You’re so fucking wet for me.” He murmured almost silently, his lips caressing the shell of her ear, and she shivered anew at the profanity. No-one had ever spoken to her like that before. It was strangely thrilling.

“Gabriel please.”She panted as quietly as she could manage into his ear. “I don’t want him to hear us.”